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Metabolic activity of microorganisms in evaporitesCrystalline salt is generally considered so hostile to most forms of life that it has been used for centuries as a preservative. Here, we present evidence that prokaryotes inhabiting a natural evaporite crust of halite and gypsum are metabolically active while inside the evaporite for at least 10 months. In situ measurements demonstrated that some of these "endoevaporitic" microorganisms (probably the cyanobacterium Synechococcus Nageli) fixed carbon and nitrogen. Denitrification was not observed. Our results quantified the slow microbial activity that can occur in salt crystals. Implications of this study include the possibility that microorganisms found in ancient evaporite deposits may have been part of an evaporite community.
Document ID
20040089558
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rothschild, L. J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field CA United States)
Giver, L. J.
White, M. R.
Mancinelli, R. L.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of phycology
Volume: 30
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0022-3646
Subject Category
Exobiology
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Exobiology
NASA Center ARC

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